Automatic stock-feeding apparatus.



W. T. MASEK.

AUTOMATIC STOCK FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1916. 1 1 92,663 Patented July 25, 1916.

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W. T. MASEK.

AUTOMATIC STOCK FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. I916.

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latented July 25, 1916.

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STATE 13 WILLIAM THOMAS MASEK, OI DAVID CITY, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC STOCK-FEEDING APPARATUS.

'specifieation of Letters Patent. v

Patented July. 25, 1916.

Application filed May 20, 1916. Serial No. 98,894.

same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic stock feeding apparatus and the object in view is to provide a simple and efficient device of this nature so arranged that at any predetermined moment the mechanism may be set to operate for feeding the stock.

The invention comprises various details of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing the hay rack and grain boxes at their lowest normal positions. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the hay rack and the boxes raised to dumping positions. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the manner of mounting the racks and feed boxes.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the shaft of a building upon which the hoisting drums B are fixed, and C is a hinged rack upon which the hay or grain is adapted to be held and which is hinged at D to the manger in a convenient location to the point at which the feed is to be dumped at a predetermined moment. Grain boxes, designated by letter F, are mounted'upon said rack and their upper ends are opened and one edge, designated by letter H, projects above the upper hinged edge of the rack for the purpose, as will be observed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, of extending over the edge of the manger when the rack is raised to dump ing position. Hoisting cables, designated by letter H, are fastened to the free swinging edge of the rack and passed over the hoisting drums I. A cable N passes about a drum 0 upon the shaft A and has a weight 0 fastened thereto,a rope 0 being secured to said weight 0 and passing about a reel 0 upon the shaft A and S is a handle which is fastened to a shaft and also to a ratchet wheel Q. A pawl Q has connection with the lever T through the medium of a clevis T and is adapted to hold the ratchet in engagement with the ratchet wheel. A releasing hook, designated by letter W, is adapted to engage one end of the lever T and has a fingerX designed to be actuated by any suitable clock mechanism or electro-magnet Y.

In operation, the hay is placed upon the rack and feed within the boxes, when the rack and boxes are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the cable with the weight attached being first wound up supporting the weight in an elevated position. The weight is normally held in its upright position through the medium of the hook engaging the lever which in turn causes the pawl to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The hook or trip W is actuated by the alarm mechanism of a clock at any predetermined moment which, when actuated, will be released from the lever T, allowing the ratchet to disen gage the ratchet wheel and which will permit the weight to rotate the shaft and wind up and cause the hoisting ropes H to wind up upon the drums and raise theracks to the elevated position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the edges of the feed boxes will engage over the edge of the wall adjacent to the manger and dump the contents thereof into the latter.

By the provision of the apparatus shownand described, it will be noted that a simple and efficient device is provided whereby stock may be fed at any hour by simply setting the alarm mechanism of the clock so that at a predetermined moment the trip may be actuated to allow the weight to cause the shaft to rotate and elevate the rack and feed boxes, allowing the same to dump by gravity into the manger.

What I claim to be new is 1. An automatic stock feeding apparatus comprising a rack and a manger to which the same is hinged, feed boxes having upper ends projecting above the hinged part of the rack and adapted to engage over the wall of the manger when the box is elevated to a dumping position, a rotatable weight-actuated shaft, drurns thereon, ropes secured to the swinging edges of the rack and adapted to Wind about said drums, a second shaft a ratchet wheel fixed to the latter, a reel ro-f f tating With the ratchet wheel, a rope Winding about the reel, and a Weight-secured to the rope which passes about said reel, a pawl engaging means for releasing the ratchet Wheelto allow the Weight to cause the drums to rotate and elevate the shaft dumping positions;

2. An'automatic stock feeding apparatus comprising'a rack and afmanger to which the same is hinged, feed boxes havingupand feed boxes to per ends projecting above the hinged part ofv the rack and adapted to engage over the Wallof the manger when the box is elevated the, ratchet Wheel," automatic to a dumping position, a rotatable Weightactuated shaft, drums thereon, ropes secured to the swinging edges of the rack and adapted to Wind about said drums, a second shaft a 7 niatically-operated trip engaging said lever.

In testimony whereof I'hereunto afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

, WILLIAM THOMAS MAsE Witnesses: R. P. Ross, J. S. CROW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

